DOI: 10.9744/kata.19.1.1-7 ISSN 1411-2639 (Print), ISSN 2302-6294 (Online)

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The Role of Girls as Mothers in Series

Marcelina Fransisca1, Jenny Mochtar2 1,2 Department of English, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, INDONESIA e-mails: [email protected]; [email protected]

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the role of the female characters in Harry Potter series. It aims to find out the ways the female characters, , , and take a mother role for Harry, whereas they are in their teenage years. Using Barthes’ theory on myths, this study identifies that there are two myths that are in operation, the myth that girls are supposed to be mothers and the myth that mothers are supposed to protect, nurture, and educate. As the agents of the myths,the three teenage girls willingly take their role as mothers role that are assigned to them. These three female characters take their roles as mothers to Harry in how they protect, nurture, and educate Harry. In response to this, Harry also succumbs to the position of being protected, nurtured and educated by these three girls. Despite Rowling’s claims on her being a feminist when she said that ―I’ve always considered myself as a feminist‖ (Rowling, 2011), she cannot escape the myths on girls and women. Rowling sees that being a mother is the most powerful role for girls and women.

Keywords: Myths; Girl’s role; Mother’s roles; Protectors; Nurturers; Mentors.

INTRODUCTION As Harry is the hero of the series, his friends who help him to accomplish his quest usually is in his shadow, When we are talking about fantasy genre, the first especially the female characters who contribute much thing that comes to mind is the Harry Potter series. to Harry’s success compared to the male ones. They Harry Potter series started in 1997, and it received are all outstanding wizards; Hermione is extremely much more attention after its first (out of eight) smart, Luna is very creative, and Ginny is excep- film adaptation was released in 2001. The films’ tionally stronger and braver than most of other female popularity only caused the fandom to grow even wizards. Hermione teaches him spells and tricks to bigger. In 2014, as recorded by Scholastic, the books beat , and she is even willing to have been translated to 68 languages (―Meet Author sacrifice herself when she destroys one of J.K. Rowling,‖ n.d.). Fans’ enthusiasm was beyond Voldemort’s horcruxes. Luna is known as Harry’s explosive that bookstores started to hold pre-order mentor as she often gives him ideas and hints that lead events that allowed fans to order the book before it to his success. And the other character is Ginny who was released. This method turned out to be a huge is willing to protect Harry at all costs. These three success, with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows women are very loyal to him that they are willing to breaking the pre-order record. It managed to reach sacrifice their lives in order to help Harry win against 1.000.000 copies of orders during its pre-order week Voldemort and as of them have their own plans and (―Potter Pre-orders Smash All Records,‖ 2007). Now, hopes for their future, but in the end they choose to pre-order system has become a routine for best-selling fight for him. Harry also has close male friends, but series. This series tells the story of an 11 year-old they mostly act as equivalent male friends to him wizard named Harry who has to kill Lord Voldemort, rather than fathers. The flaws of the male characters his biggest enemy, in order to save the magic world are often more visible and easier to detect than their from evil. Throughout his adventure, Harry meets positive ones. is often emotionally many obstacles, from the constant attack from immature and insecure, though he is able to be mature Voldemort and his followers to the death of his loved as the time goes and shows intelligence and bravery, ones. With the help of his close friends like Hermione especially during the war against Lord Voldmort. He Granger, Ron Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Neville leads the human chess game in order to help Harry Longbottom, and also his future wife Ginny Weasley, find Professor Quirrell. He accompanies Harry on his Harry is able to beat Voldemort and brings peace to missions though he is afraid, and he also destroys one the magic world. of Voldemort’s horcrux. Harry’s other friend, Neville

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Longbottom, is described as extremely clumsy and the first system, becomes a mere signifier in the slow in learning at the beginning of the story. second (Barthes, 1972, p. 113). However, Neville shows the will to solve problems by himself; he tries to stop Harry, Hermione, and Ron from chasing Professor Quirrell because he does not want Gryffindor to suffer from another point deduc- tion, he also insists to follow Harry in his journey to save from Lord Voldemort, and in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows he becomes the As depicted in the picture above, the first two-part is leader of the students’ rebellion. the Sausserean model. Once a signifier and a signified form a sign, this sign becomes a signifier. It has a new In one of her interviews for Harry Potter & Deathly signified and later become a new sign, which is myth. Hallows DVD Special, Rowling claimed that she created strong and powerful female characters who It must be understood that the female characters in were independent, strong, and skilful individuals. Harry Potter series are described as girls in their early Rowling (2011) mentioned that a woman can fight teens (eleven to seventeen year old). A girl, according just the same as a man can fight, a woman can do to Oxford, is defined as a female child, a daughter, or magic just as powerfully as a man can do magic. And a young girl. The word girl acts as a signifier on the I considered that I’ve written a lot well-rounded first level, and the signified is the mental image of a female characters in these books . . . . I’ve always female child. Girls are young children, but it does not considered myself as a feminist (Heyman, Barron, & mean that they do not have myths surrounding them. Rowling, & Yates, 2011). Goodnow (1988) stated that girls have been shown to perform traditionally feminine household tasks Despite this claim, she makes her female characters (cleaning the house, cooking) more than boys (as to focus their lives on the hero’s success. Her female cited in Crouter, McHale, & Tucker, 1999, p. 2). characters are put in a position where they are not There is a social construction that girls should be allowed to chase their own dreams and fight for their loving and nurturing, and it is supported by many own causes. More often than not, they are put in a things like clothes, television shows, and even toys. position to act as Harry’s helpers who put Harry’s Girls are given dolls as toys and they are taught to needs above theirs. Not only do they help Harry, but take care of their dolls by feeding them, changing they also protect, nurture and educate Harry. I can their clothes, and giving them attention. Gonzales- safely assume that they take the role of mothers to Mena (2006) noted that playing with blocks is Harry. This problem is what makes it interesting to considered giving experience in spatial relations and discuss how the three female characters, Hermione in mathematical concepts, where playing with dolls Granger, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood, and dramatic role playing is associated with learning position themselves in their relations with Harry. to be a nurturer (as cited in Power, 2011). Cook and Cook (2008) also described that girl soften receive In order to discuss this assumption, it is important to ratings from others, and evaluate themselves, as more understand myths revolving around motherhood. helpful, cooperative, and sympathetic (p. 363). Myth is a concept or an opinion about something that the majority believes to be true (Iswidayati, 2006, p. The fact that girls are shaped to be nurturing and to be 4). Roland Barthes, the author of Mythologies able to do all things that mothers do makes it explained, ―It is not defined by the object of its impossible not to link girls with mothers. According message, but by the way in which it utters the to Oxford, mother means a female in relation to her message‖ (Barthes, 1972, p. 107). Myth removes children. On the first level, the word mother acts as history from language, causing people to believe the signifier, and the signified is the mental image of a things are true because ―that is the way it is‖ woman who has children. From the signifier and (Robinson, 2011). Barthes uses Ferdinand de signified, we get a sign which is the concept of a Saussure’s two-part model of sign as the base of his mother. However, according to Barthes’ theory, the theory. Saussure’s defines a sign to consist of signifier concept of a mother later becomes a signifier that and signified. Signifier is the form which the sign creates another sign which are the myths people takes (it can be words, sound, or images) and signified believe in. Mother does not only mean a female is the concept it represents. The whole association of parent, but also someone who gives the children love, the signifier with the signified is what we call sign. attention, education, and security. The mother por- Myth itself comes from a semiological chain which trayed in this ideology is devoted to the care of others; existed before it: it is a second-order system. A sign in she is self-sacrificing and not a subject with her own

The Role of Girls as Mothers in Harry Potter Series 3 needs and interests (Arendell, 1999, p. 5). A mother can be shown in the form of sacrificing their has to be able to survive all kinds of harsh conditions relationship with other people and sacrificing their for the children, give the children unconditional love, own lives. The first character who acts a protector for and teach them things they need (Zipp, 2012). Harry is Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley’s little sister. She is described as being very shy around Harry, that In order to see girls’ and mothers’ myths more clearly, she cannot even have a proper interaction because she I have put their myths in the table below. is unable to carry herself in front Harry. She cannot behave normally and always appears very clumsy. GIRLS MOTHERS However, when Harry is confronted by Draco Loving Loving Malfoy, she changes into a different person. She Patient Patient glares at Malfoy, ―Leave him alone, he didn't want all Nurturing Nurturing that!‖ (Rowling, 1998, p. 53). Helpful Protective - Educating This act of protecting means that Ginny feels the instinct and urgency to defend Harry. She is only a If we pay attention to the table above, it can be seen little girl, yet she is able to act like a protector when that girls and mothers share almost all of their myths. needed. On top of that, she does not think of whom she is confronting and just does what she thinks is right. It can be said that she appoints herself as GIRLS MOTHERS Harry’s protector even though no one asks her to do Loving so, not even Harry. Barthes (1972) stated that ―[m]yth Nurturing Protecting has turned reality inside out, it has emptied it of history and has filled it with nature‖ (p. 142-143). Helpful Educating When people unconsciously behave according to the Patient myths surrounding them, they do not think about other possibilities about how things should or should not work. What they do in that moment is what they believe to be true; they do not think of other options or question their choices. Ginny’s impulsiveness, The myth of a girl and a mother, share similar naturalness, and urgency, show that she believes in characteristics, even though there is a huge age her action of defending Harry. During that short difference between girls (young children) and period of time, she forgets the fact that Malfoy is her mothers (usually adult women), meaning that ever senior whose family has higher status than hers, but it since they are young, girls are already conditioned to does not change the fact that she believes her action to be mothers. Being loving, nurturing, or patient are be true. As a result of defending Harry and forgetting exactly what their mothers do for them, shaping the her ―place‖, Ginny has to bear the consequences of belief that girls should become like their mothers, then her action. As a result of defending Harry and forget- embrace the same role when they grow up. Tarlow ting her ―place‖, Ginny has to bear the consequences (1996) said, ―Caring is part of the world of women" of her action when Malfoy mocked her by saying (as cited in Arendell, p. 3). McMahon also stated that "Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!"(Rowling, p. ―Mothering is a primary identity for adult women, and women's gender identity is reinforced by mother- 53). Berry (2011) stated, ―There is a tendency for the male partner to become the child in the relation- ing‖ (as cited in Arendell, p. 4). This concept has been ship, while his female partner becomes the passed from generation to generation; it has been attempt to bully Ginny repeated over and over again that people believe is the mother‖. Therefore, Malfoy’s truth. It becomes easy and natural for girls to take the by calling her as Harry’s girlfriend shows that as a mother role because they are already used to it ever boy, Malfoy also accepts the myth that a girlfriend is since they are young. Thus the two myths about girls also supposed to act as a mother who protects. Her and mother that are intertwined would be utilized to action of defending Harry is like how a mother will analyze Hermione Granger’s, Luna Lovegood’s and act when she has to protect her child from harm, she Ginny Weasley’s relationship with Harry Potter. will act first and think later. From this proof, it can be concluded that Ginny acts as a mother who protects AS PROTECTORS her child regardless of the consequences for herself. Rowling positions her as someone who is ready to A mother acts as a protector by making sure that her step out of her safe zone in order to guarantee Harry’s child is not harmed, injured, or damaged. Protection safety.

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Hermione Granger also becomes Harry’s protector at Ron’s and Hermione’s position. They are facing the the most crucial times as well. Whenever he is in same problem, but Ron does not take the role as a danger, she is usually the first one who tries to save father figure who protects. him. Her protectiveness for Harry makes her become an impulsive person while she is not an impulsive In comparison to how female characters protect person by nature. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Harry, the male characters also show that they are Stone, Rowling makes it clear for everyone that willing to protect Harry and sacrifice themselves—to Hermione hates doing everything that can endanger an extent. In this incident in Harry Potter and the her position at school. She stood up, glaring at them Deathly Hallows, Hermione and Ron get into a fight (Harry and Ron). regarding whether they are staying with Harry or not. ―I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We Ron wrenched the chain from over his head and could all have been killed—or worse, expelled. cast the locket into a nearby chair. He turned to Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed" Hermione. ―What are you doing?‖ (Rowling, 1997, p. 129). ―What do you mean?‖ ―Are you staying or what?‖ This incident describes how thoroughly and carefully ―I ... ‖ She looked anguished. ―Yes—yes, I’m Hermione thinks about the consequences she may staying, Ron, we said we’d go with Harry, we face before she acts. She explicitly states that getting said we’d help—‖ expelled is worse than getting killed for her and she ―I get it. You choose him.‖ does not plan to join whatever Harry and Ron are ―Ron, no—please—come back, come back!‖ planning to do next. However, when Harry’s broom is (Rowling, 2007, p. 310). jinxed during his match, she becomes a totally different person. After many fights (mainly with Harry), Ron decides "He's doing something—jinxing the broom," to leave him even though Harry needs all the help and said Hermione. protection he can get. Before they journey starts, Ron "What should we do?" asked Ron has stated that he is willing to be with Harry no matter "Leave it to me." . . . what, but when problems happen, he wavers. He also Hermione had fought her way across to the stand lets his personal feelings prevent him from acting where Snape stood. . . . reasonably. Hermione, on the other hand, sticks Bright blue flames shot from her wand onto the alongside Harry despite the situation (of having to hem of Snape's robes (Rowling, 1997, p. 152). defy Ron whom she has romantic feelings for). Their choices when they are faced with the same situation An inconsistency also happens in Hermione’s are once again different. This means that in this story, characteristics. She is described as a very strict person, female characters are more able to protect and think but that immediately changes when Harry is in clearly regardless of the situation. They are also more danger. She also lets her instinct take over, causing selfless compared to the male since they are willing to her to save Harry without thinking about how she sacrifice themselves despite the consequences. may end up being punished or even expelled for directly attacking a teacher. Ginny and Hermione take their role as mothers who protect for granted, in contrast to the male characters. Instead of Ron, Hermione is the one who impulsively They always protect Harry impulsively as they goes to stop the culprit, which is a teacher whom she believe that protecting Harry is what they should do. is afraid of. According to Barthes’ theory on myth, a We can also see that there are two myths that myth occurs only if someone is a true believer who intertwined. The first one is the myth that all girls consumes the myth innocently (Robinson, 2011). Ron have motherly instinct and the second one is the myth is clueless, asking ―what should we do?‖ to her, that mothers are protectors. This concept has also showing the proof that he does consume the myth been accepted by people around them, especially the (that girls are supposed to protect) innocently by not men, since none of them shows discomfort or shame feeling ashamed of his cluelessness. Like Malfoy, when the girls fight for them or stand up for them in Ron also consumes the myth that a girl should take a front of the enemies. role of a mother who protects. As Harry’s best friend, he does not actively try to save Harry and make his AS NURTURERS position equal with Hermione’s. He shows a sign of dependency on Hermione to take a decision on the A mother acts as a nurturer by taking care and gives best way to protect Harry, and he is not disturbed by attention as well as support to her children while they his choice of action. Thus, there is a gap between are growing. Nurturing can be done by feeding,

The Role of Girls as Mothers in Harry Potter Series 5 taking care of, or simply knowing what they want or ―I’d want some peace and quiet, if it were me,‖ need. Hermioneacts not only as aprotector but also as she said. a nurturer for Harry is. In Harry Potter and the ―I’d love some,‖ he replied. Deathly Hallows, Hermione nurture Harry and Ron ―I’ll distract them all,‖ she said. ―Use your by packing up their clothes and other needs. Cloak‖ (Rowling, 2007, p.745). ―Hermione, we haven’t got anything to change into,‖ Ron told her . . . . Robinson (2011) wrote that when it comes to ―It’s okay, I’ve got the Cloak, I’ve got clothes,‖ believing myth, ―people are then convinced that what said Hermione. they’ve seen is a fact, a reality, even an experience – ―When did you do all this?‖ Harry asked as Ron as if they’d actually lived it‖. When people already stripped off his robes. believe in myth, they will believe that their action is ―I told you at the Burrow, I’ve had the essentials something that they have to do although they do not packed for days, you know, in case we needed to know the exact reason. Like Hermione, Luna also make a quick getaway. I packed your rucksack seems to be thinking that nurturing Harry is a part of this morning, Harry, after you changed, and put her responsibility, especially supported by the fact that it in here. . . . I just had a feeling. . . .‖ nobody else, even those who are closer to Harry, ―You’re amazing, you are,‖ said Ron, handing understands Harry’s emotional turmoil as well as her his bundled up robes (Rowling, 2007, p. Luna. 161). Both Hermione and Luna take the role as nurturers, a The myth of a mother as a nurturer is in operation in role that is seen as a mother’s. Therefore, they do not this incident, when a sign moves from the first to only become nurturers, but they also embrace the role second level, the signifier of the first order is as mothers who nurtures. Their actions are mostly suppressed by the myth when it becomes the signifier fueled by sense of responsibility. Even so, they also of the second order. It is emptied out of meaning then show willingness in fulfilling their role, meaning the filled in by the second-order concept (Baumann, n.d.). myth that girls are supposed to be mothers and that When something becomes myth, nobody pays mothers are supposed to be nurturing are once again attention to the first order sign anymore. Its original cannot be separated. meaning no longer matters as it is replaced by the myth itself. In this case, Hermione does not see AS MENTORS herself as a girl who is a female child anymore, but as someone who behaves according to the traits of A mother acts as a mentor by positioning herself as a caring and nurturing. Her instinct to nurture is more experienced person who advises and helps those triggered by the belief that taking care of the boys’ who are less experienced. Mentoring can be done by physical state is her responsibility. Besides showing teaching things or giving advices when needed. Not signs of being responsible, Hermione also shows only Hermione is a protector and nurturer, but she is naturalness in taking care of her friends. Ron’s also a mentor. She often teaches him spells or lessons reaction also supports the fact that he considers and is the first person Harry goes to when he needs to Hermione’s action as something natural. Her taking learn. In the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet care of them is a belief that has been naturalized, of Fire, Harry is chosen as a contestant for Triwizard accepted without question. None of them feels Tournament which requires him to know more about disturbed by the attention she gives them; none of spells and tricks in order to survive. Hermione is the them complains. Harry’s and Ron’s compliment for first person he goes to."Let's just try and keep you Hermione means that both of them see her action as alive until Tuesday evening," Hermione said,"and something to be expected. then we can worry about Karkaroff" (Rowling, 2000, p. 220). Hermione reacts to Harry’s worry in a very The second character who acts as a nurturer for Harry confident way. She directly gives him instructions and is Luna Lovegood. If Hermione often nurtures Harry sets his priorities straight. If we pay more attention on (along with Ron) by taking care of their physical this incident, it is clear that Hermione positions herself health, Luna nurtures him by becoming a great moral as someone who knows better than Harry. She support. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, believes that she has the right to tell him what to do. If Luna gives Harry a solitude moment that he needs the we see myths surrounding girls, educating is not one most after he defeats Lord Voldermort and ends the of them since girls are still too young for the task. wizard war. Therefore, when girls act as mentors, they are taking After a while, exhausted and drained, Harry role as mothers who are seen as their children’s found himself sitting on a bench beside Luna. educators.

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In another incident in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Harry whirled round. Fire, the role of Hermione as Harry’s mentor is ―Yes!‖ he whispered, moving towards them further emphasized when he is not hesitant to ask for (Rowling, 2003, p. 639). her help. ―Hermione, I need to learn how to do a In this incident, Luna immediately takes the lead. It is Summoning Charm properly by tomorrow clear that the mission they are trying to complete is afternoon." And so they practiced. They didn't actually Harry’s, and Harry is supposed to be the have lunch, but headed for a free classroom. leader. However, she naturally takes over his position; "That's better, Harry, that's loads better," she immediately expresses her idea and directly Hermione said, looking exhausted but very decides things for them, while none of the male pleased (Rowling, 2000, p. 225). characters does so. This means that like Hermione, Luna also feels it to be her responsibility when it The fact that Harry sees Hermione as his mentor is comes to giving Harry tips or guides. Like what obvious here since he chooses her to teach him, not Hermione experiences, Luna also does not see herself Ron or anybody else. He asks her to help him as if it as a girl who should follow, but as a girl who is is the most natural thing to do and he is never hesitant supposed to lead. That is what makes her and also the that Hermione would be able and willing to help him. others, especially Harry, justify her action. Harry’s Hermione’s action of teaching Harry becomes totally reaction toward Luna’s guidance also strengthens the appropriate because the society has appropriated the fact that he regards her as a mother who mentors. view that girls are usually the smart, calm, and organized ones. This myth is seen as something Hermione and Luna take their roles as mothers who considered to be the truth as it has been repeated again mentor. They position themselves as people who and again. Nyamidie (1999) stated that, ―Women in know more than Harry, as people who are superior to general are the newborn child's primary caregivers in Harry in terms of knowledge while teaching or most societies. The paid nanny, the indulgent guiding Harry means that they are comfortable with grandmother, or an older sister are most likely to their role as mentors. Harry (and other male watch over the child during its first three critical years. characters) also shows an incredible amount of trust It is during this time that the words, unspoken and obedient toward the girls, especially Luna. These messages and expectations of the caregiving woman findings prove that the two myths that girls are good affect and determine the child's future destiny most‖ mentors and that mothers are the ones who educate (p. 1). This kind of belief only strengthens the myth are intertwined. that girls are better in educating or mentoring. CONCLUSION From this incident, it can also be seen that Hermione feels proud when Harry does well. She looks ―very Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, and Luna pleased‖ even though she has to sacrifice her time and Lovegood have all taken the roles as mothers energy for him. Hermione’s response shows how she throughout the story, by becoming protectors, does not position herself as Harry’s friend when she is nurturers, and mentors. It can be concluded that the teaching him, but as a mother who educates. female characters in Harry Potter series do possess Therefore, Hermione sees Harry’s success as her motherly characteristics. By assigning these female success as well because she takes part in it.The fact characters their roles as mothers in a very young age, that she does not hesitate to show her satisfaction J.K. Rowling shows that she cannot escape the myths means that that she sees the act of mentoring him as surrounding girls and mothers despite wanting to something she is glad to be doing. make her female characters hold the same amount of power as her male ones. The girls in her story are still If Hermione often becomes Harry’s mentor in terms placed in feminine roles, and being a mother is the of teaching him spells and tricks, then Luna acts more most basic and traditional role for them. She positions as a mentor who shares information and gives the girls as ―mothers-to-be‖, and mothers are sup- suggestion about how to solve a certain problem. In posed to protect, nurture, and mentor their children. Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix, Harry and his Her female characters are positioned as the ones who friends are trying to sneak into the help the men to succeed; their strength and skill stand without getting caught and Luna guides them. out the most when they are acting as mothers for ―Well, it doesn't matter, anyway,‖ said Harry Harry, not when they are trying to achieve success for through gritted teeth, because we still don't know themselves. how to get there –‖. . . ―I thought we'd settled that,‖ said Luna Rowling’s inability to escape the myths does not maddeningly. ―We're flying!‖ mean that she fails to write independent, strong, and

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